Congratulations! I have a restively-heated hydronic system with in-floor radiant heat, and I love it. Because we have relatively low electric rates here, my annual cost isn't too high, but even so, I put in solar panels last month. And, I will wait to see what my expenses are after another winter.

The electric power sockets shown at the beginning of your video suggest you're not in North America and are perhaps in Britain or Ireland?

"Types" of HVAC equipment, thermostats and other controls are what they are but brands, construction standards and techniques, etc., can be very country or region specific. This forum tends to be very United States- centric so while you may encounter someone with a system of a similar technology, you're unlikely to find a Yank with the same equipment.

Good luck

@armoured - thank you for the detailed reply, much appreciated... great to learn about all of this... I never knew I would gain an interest in all of this

@mtvhike - thank you

@Elmer J Fudd - thanks you, yes I am based in Ireland

A few final questions, if that's ok.

04 - does the external unit (outside) always run or only when it needs to adjust the temperature?

05 - does the overall heating system control the hot water too (how do I ensure I have hot water in the morning and evening?)

06 - how do you get the floor hotter in the morning when you get up

@Hu -

-the outside unit may not run all the time but obviously more when more heat needed. Note, 'running' may sound different, not always with fan going - like an air conditioner may cycle. One reason is that it can have ice form on coils (like an air conditioner) and need to either let that ice thaw and drain off or have a special mode to defrost in certain conditions. Your manual should have some info on this.

-hot water: quite possible but you'd have to look at your system. Is there anything that looks like a hot water tank for the house? Get installer to show you, but probably you can follow the piping from your heat pump to the tank. Also possible you have a separate hot water system that's just electric.

-for actual operating instructions, you'd need to get your manual or the installer to help figure it out. There's likely a programmable setting. But like I said, especially if the system is in-floor, it will take some hours to respond so you may find it more manageable to set it at one temp and leave it. Particularly while you're new to the house and system. Certainly don't program in big differences in temp.

One additional point, it's likely your system has preferences for when and in what circumstances it uses only heat pump or switches over to resistance heat (possibly even locking the resistance heat out), including for hot water. The trade-off is slower heating/lower operating costs (heat pump mode) vs faster response/more heat and hot water/higher costs (resistance mode).

And should note, Elmer J Fudd is correct, that while some here may have general familiarity with these systems, we don't know details and how your house and system are set up and the controls running it all. You really need to get either the installer or servicing company or previous owner to walk you through it and get documentation and manuals. There are also (likely) some settings that are intended only to be set by trained professionals/the installer/servicer.

Ah, apologies for one thought/complication - if you have time of day rates (especially if much lower rates at night) there may be preferred/recommended settings to make best of cheaper rates. Another reason to get familiar and/or get the installer in to walk you through it.

Having lived in Continental Europe and visited Britain and Ireland many times, I think Americans may not be familiar with the sometimes quite strange contraptions and arrangements used to heat space and water that are in use there.

To our Irish friend, I'm not suggesting there's anything other than straight-forward and most modern about what you have. I'm sure it's awesome and you will learn all you need to know to use it well and efficiently.

But few of my fellow countrymen have experienced equipment typical of what might be encountered in your area and that may be the case for what you specifically have. A great example of something unknown here is what I presume you're familiar with - a behemoth Aga stove in the kitchen putting out heat 24x7 and used for domestic hot water or even heating water for radiators. And bloody awful for cooking. But people have them.

As for operating, you'll get the details but radiated heat can only slowly warm a space. If you have a heat pump heating water, you'll have lower water temperatures than if with a boiler and probably won't be able to use overnight set-backs and morning recovery because it would take too long to raise the temperature of the rooms. Maybe your install also has a boiler for backup and cold weather?

Please keep us informed about what you learn, I'm sure it will be interesting.